Paresh Rawal reacts to AR Rahman’s clarification of his ‘communal’ remark: ‘You are our pride’ | – The Times of India

AR Rahman has been in the news for his comments about the Hindi film industry being communal. The composer dropped a video on Sunday morning clarifying on the same. Paresh Rawal has now reacted to it. After facing days of criticism over remarks made during an interview, music composer AR Rahman released a clarification on Sunday, reaffirming his deep affection for India. In his message, the Oscar-winning composer reflected on his bond with the country and his art, and stressed that he “never meant to cause pain.”Actor-politician Paresh Rawal reacted to Rahman’s clarification by re-sharing the post on social media. A fan page dedicated to Rahman had earlier shared the composer’s video on X (formerly Twitter) with the caption, “A.R.Rahman speaks out & responds with clarity.” Paresh amplified the post and wrote, “We love you sir. You are our pride.” accompanied by folded hands and heart emojis.However, Rawal’s response sparked mixed reactions online, with many users unsure whether his comment was heartfelt or sarcastic. One user asked, “Was it sarcasm??” while another remarked, “Reason why I like u as a comedian sir.” A third wrote, “Sorry, sir. I am not part of that, unless it’s sarcasm.”At the same time, several Rahman fans interpreted Paresh’s message as genuine. One commented, “Sometimes you also say the right things!” Another urged, “Note: Please don’t delete this later due to ‘pressure.’ Let it stay.”Not everyone agreed, though. Some users took issue with Rawal’s wording, with one posting, “Speak for yourself, Paresh,” and others echoing that he was only expressing a personal opinion when he referred to Rahman as “our pride.”The controversy stems from Rahman’s comments in an interview with BBC Asian Network, where he was asked whether he ever felt sidelined in Bollywood for being a Tamil composer. He responded that he did not experience such feelings when he began his career in the 1990s, saying, “Maybe I never got to know of this, maybe it was concealed by God, but I didn’t feel any of this.” He went on to add, “The past eight years, maybe, because a power shift has happened, and people who are not creative have the power now. It might be a communal thing also… but it is not in my face.” During the same conversation, Rahman also criticised Chhaava for capitalising on “divisiveness.”